With the release of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion this summer, Apple will make the switch to a new kind of digital distribution for its operating system upgrades by releasing the software first through its new Mac App Store, AppleInsider has learned.

The Mac App Store, available to all users running the most recent version of Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, will become the de facto method for obtaining the Lion upgrade, people familiar with the matter have revealed. Users will be able to upgrade instantly without the need for physical media by purchasing Lion through the Mac App Store.

While the Mac App Store will be the preferred method for installing Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, set for release this summer, it's logical to presume that Apple will also offer an optical disc for people who may not have broadband. At least person with knowledge of the situation claims that this will indeed be the case "for those with slower connections, or [for those who for whatever reason do] not want to download it."

Apple will likely reveal its distribution plans for Lion at this year's Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco, Calif., set to take place June 6 through 10. Apple has promised that this year's conference will showcase the "future" of the Mac operating system, and will be an event developers will not want to miss.

Evidence that Lion will be available in the Mac App Store can already be found in the pre-release builds Apple has issued to developers. Betas are downloaded from the Mac App Store by entering a redemption code provided by Apple.

Utilizing the App Store will allow owners of the new disc-drive-less MacBook Air to easily install the latest version of Mac OS X without the need for a physical disc. Apple ships its redesigned MacBook Air with a Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard reinstaller on a USB thumb drive, rather than a DVD.

Making the App Store a central component of the Mac experience will also allow Apple to remove disc drives from future hardware as the company looks toward a future of computing without the need for physical media. Removal of SuperDrives from devices like the MacBook Pro is expected to take place over the next 12-18 months, paving the way for even thinner designs with more internal space for a larger battery.

Apple has even moved to limit shelf space for software in its retail stores, allowing greater room for more profitable hardware to be sold. In February, it was rumored that the company actually plans to cease the sale of all boxed software at its retail locations.

The App Store has even been highlighted by Apple as a defining feature of Lion, which is due to be released this summer. But rather than wait for the release of Lion, Apple opted to bring the Mac App Store to Snow Leopard users in January.

Hardware requirements for the Mac App Store are the same as those for Snow Leopard, including an Intel-based processor, 1GB of system RAM, and 5GB of available disk space. But those with Apple's earliest Intel-based machines will not be able to run Lion, as it has a minimum requirement of a Core 2 Duo processor.

Making the App Store a central component of the Mac experience will also allow Apple to remove disc drives from future hardware as the company looks toward a future of computing without the need for physical media. Removal of SuperDrives from devices like the MacBook Pro is expected to take place over the next 12-18 months, paving the way for even thinner designs with more internal space for a larger battery.

can not wait for the day of superdrive-less machines... over the past 3 years, i used the superdrive on my mbp once. literally only once.

The Mac App Store, as our Apple Account Executive stated, is currently only consumer focused.
Which is language for no way to avoid paying tax even if you are a tax exempt entity like a college or university. Until they build something for that they must release via some other method.
Of course, this hasn't stopped them from distributing Xcode 4 as a paid app through the Mac App Store. At that point the only tax free option for Xcode 4 would be a $99 ADC membership...

The Mac App Store, as our Apple Account Executive stated, is currently only consumer focused.
Which is language for no way to avoid paying tax even if you are a tax exempt entity like a college or university. Until they build something for that they must release via some other method.

I was unaware that such entities were exempt from paying sales tax. Thought the "exempt" referred to income tax.

I hope this is going to be a better (more typically Mac-like) user experience than the awkwardness of obtaining XCode through the App Store (at least the first time round). How much free disk space will you need? (And how will the App Store and/or the installer report this?) Will you have to run Install Lion.app in /Applications to actually install the software? (Not that big a deal for computer-savvy users, I know, but it slightly undermines the cosy App Store experience.)

Correct me if I’m wrong, but in the past, the OS X EULA only allowed for it to be installed on a single Mac unless you bought the Family Pack which allowed 4, if I remember correctly (of course, there was nothing stopping you from installing the single license version on multiple Macs).

The Mac App Store only allows software, with a license to be installed on any Mac owned by the same person.

Will the version of Lion available on the Mac App Store be under the same license as the rest of the software on the Store, or will the make an exemption for OS X?

Not sure if I can do a fresh install when I download it via the AppStore but I quess not. After Formatting I wouldn't have a boot image... (They could of corse make use of my 8 GB of Ram).
Other Problem: If my harddrive dies or I feel I need to change it, there is no way of getting the OS it on there without a CD/USB drive.

By the way: If they offer USB pendrives with the OS I will take those ...

pro: one less disc to keep track of. my family already lost my iWork disc.

cons: what if i want to format the hard drive and restart from scratch? or even just archive and install? what if i completely replace my hard drive? what if i want to sell my mac and get a new one, would i retain the license or would the buyer get it? how would they reinstall the OS after I wipe the hard drive? how long is this going to take to download? will we be able and authorized to burn our own install DVDs from the downloaded software?

Correct me if Im wrong, but in the past, the OS X EULA only allowed for it to be installed on a single Mac unless you bought the Family Pack which allowed 4, if I remember correctly (of course, there was nothing stopping you from installing the single license version on multiple Macs).

The Mac App Store only allows software, with a license to be installed on any Mac owned by the same person.

Will the version of Lion available on the Mac App Store be under the same license as the rest of the software on the Store, or will the make an exemption for OS X?

I have been expecting this and partly for this "family" feature of the Mac App Store. Pay once, pay less and use on all your machines in the house (only 2 in my house today with Snow Leopard).

Not sure if I can do a fresh install when I download it via the AppStore but I quess not. After Formatting I wouldn't have a boot image... (They could of corse make use of my 8 GB of Ram).
Other Problem: If my harddrive dies or I feel I need to change it, there is no way of getting the OS it on there without a CD/USB drive.

By the way: If they offer USB pendrives with the OS I will take those ...

OS X Lion makes a partition on the Hard Disk, and you install via that rather than an installer on the main partition, allowing you to format your disk if you want to (the install partition is hidden, so you don’t need to worry about accidentally format that).

The install also creates a Restore partition, which you can use to reinstall Lion if there are ever any problems.

I for one see this as another example of what a fwd thinking company Apple is. I agree with the positive comments above. No tracking fedex (no fuel wasted either by a 747 from China or the local truck) No packaging waste, and no fuel wasted by me going to the Apple store to get it. Win, Win all around. Gotta think of the planet!

As far as backups...the best way is to have a laptop and an iMac (and DropBox). The chances of both crashing at the same time is very small. That way you will never miss a beat while one is being repaired.

I also have a backup ext. HD.

Granted, I mainly use both Apples for business and I can see a non business user not wanting to spend the money on two computers.

Really recommend the SmartReporter free app. (No Affiliation)

It has a little green HD icon up in the menu bar next to the clock....when things start going awry it turns red. Happened to me once...saw the red icon. Took it to Apple store, had 1 month remaining on AppleCare and they replaced the drive! Pretty cool.

pro: one less disc to keep track of. my family already lost my iWork disc.

cons: what if i want to format the hard drive and restart from scratch? or even just archive and install? what if i completely replace my hard drive? what if i want to sell my mac and get a new one, would i retain the license or would the buyer get it? how would they reinstall the OS after I wipe the hard drive? how long is this going to take to download? will we be able and authorized to burn our own install DVDs from the downloaded software?

Seems to me the Store remembers you bought the software and lets you download it again if you have a disk accident or add another Mac to your household. That's how it works now for ordinary apps and there is no reason to think the OS wouldn't be treated like any other app now.

I want a new iMac, but don't want to buy now then have to pop for Lion a few months later. Anyone know if the new Snow Leopard iMacs come with a "coupon" to upgrade to Lion when it's out? I seem to recall there was a certain number of days/weeks/months that Apple allowed for this in the past.

Seems to me the Store remembers you bought the software and lets you download it again if you have a disk accident or add another Mac to your household. That's how it works now for ordinary apps and there is no reason to think the OS wouldn't be treated like any other app now.

the ability to download it again is great. if you need to format your hard drive and you loose your copy of iWork, you can reinstall the OS from a disc and then redownload iWork for free...

... but do you see the logical problem there? if you need to format your hard drive and you lose your OS and access to the app store, how do you get your OS and access to the app store if you need your OS and access to the app store to get it?

I want a new iMac, but don't want to buy now then have to pop for Lion a few months later. Anyone know if the new Snow Leopard iMacs come with a "coupon" to upgrade to Lion when it's out? I seem to recall there was a certain number of days/weeks/months that Apple allowed for this in the past.

The free upgrade usually applies after the OS has been announced but before it ships. You need to wait until after WWDC at least to learn the answer to your question.

I for one see this as another example of what a fwd thinking company Apple is. I agree with the positive comments above. No tracking fedex (no fuel wasted either by a 747 from China or the local truck) No packaging waste, and no fuel wasted by me going to the Apple store to get it. Win, Win all around. Gotta think of the planet!

As far as backups...the best way is to have a laptop and an iMac (and DropBox). The chances of both crashing at the same time is very small. That way you will never miss a beat while one is being repaired.

I also have a backup ext. HD.

Granted, I mainly use both Apples for business and I can see a non business user not wanting to spend the money on two computers.

Really recommend the SmartReporter free app. (No Affiliation)

It has a little green HD icon up in the menu bar next to the clock....when things start going awry it turns red. Happened to me once...saw the red icon. Took it to Apple store, had 1 month remaining on AppleCare and they replaced the drive! Pretty cool.

So if you have an older machine out of warranty and the hard drive takes a dump and has to be physically replaced, how are you going to get the OS back on there if you like to start from scratch and not use a backup? Some people only have that one Mac and the app store isn't available on Windows. This is why I prefer a hard copy option.

Of course we don't really know what Apple is going to do 100% anyways.....

if you need to format your hard drive and you loose [sic] your OS and access to the app store, how do you get your OS and access to the app store if you need your OS and access to the app store to get it?